Introducing MemorySparx One – A Mobile Memory Aid Developed and Designed with People Living With Dementia

May 10, 2017

MemorySparx One is the first to launch in a suite of mobile tools designed to help people with dementia communicate with confidence and reduce reliance on caregivers

WATERLOO, ONTARIO – (May 10, 2017) – Emmetros Limited, a leader in inclusive software design, today announced MemorySparx™ One, a mobile memory aid for people living with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia to help maintain their independence and quality of life. MemorySparx One is designed to meet the unique needs of those with early- to mid-stage dementia.

“According to the World Health Organization, there are 47.5 million people living with dementia worldwide. This is an enormous group of individuals who have been underserved by technology and our team is committed to changing that,” said Mary Pat Hinton, CEO, Emmetros. “To find a way to help improve the quality of life for as many of these people as we can, we have spent more than 1,000 hours working with people with dementia and their care partners in addition to the thousands of hours of research we have put into the design and development of MemorySparx One.”

The intuitive clean design of MemorySparx One allows users to easily add and update personal details, captioned photos, audio recordings, personal health history, and more. People with dementia can access information that’s important to them whenever and wherever they need it – for example at a doctor’s office, in a social setting, or at home. Having quick access to this information enables them to communicate with confidence. MemorySparx One is designed to increase independence, while reducing reliance on companions and care partners.

"The first and most important objective in developing technical solutions for people with cognitive impairment is to include us in the development," says Mary Beth Wighton, Chair of the Ontario Dementia Advisory Group. "MemorySparx One is a product leader through the collaborative and mutually respectful manner in which it was designed and developed. MemorySparx One is a great example of how to create a product for people living with dementia the right way – and still be highly successful."

With MemorySparx One users can:

Easily add and update content using intuitive templates designed with the unique needs of people with dementia in mind.

Access information that's important to them whenever and wherever they need it - at a doctor's office, a social engagement, or a special event.

Keep track of health history, medications, and changes to mood or behaviour so they can speak for themselves at appointments with care professionals.

“Receiving a dementia diagnosis truly is a terrible thing; however, there are ways to maintain independence for quite a long time. Life does not need to stop with that diagnosis. There is a lot more for these people to do, and we want to help them do it, “adds Hinton.

Emmetros is offering introductory pricing for MemorySparx One of $13.99 CAD ($9.99 USD) for a limited time. It can be downloaded from iTunes. For more information about MemorySparx One, please visit www.memorysparx.com.

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About Emmetros

Founded in 2014, Emmetros Limited helps people with cognitive impairments live independently and with dignity through software product development, research projects, volunteer work and corporate, community, and academic partnerships. MemorySparx One is the first in a suite of mobile tools that is being developed to support individuals living with dementia and their families. Visit www.emmetros.com to learn more.

About MemorySparx One

MemorySparx One is a mobile memory aid for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia to help maintain their independence and quality of life. MemorySparx One is thoroughly tested by and developed to meet the needs of individuals living with early- to mid- stage dementia. The MemorySparx One app is available in English for iPads from iTunes. For more information, please visit www.memorysparx.com.

About The Ontario Dementia Advisory Group

The Ontario Dementia Advisory Group was formed in 2014 and comprises individuals from all walks of life who are living with dementia and who work together to influence policies and practices and ensure their voices are heard. For more about ODAG, visit www.odag.ca.